Freeze and Frost Alerts Issued for Parts of Central and Eastern U.S.

Many areas of the country will see the first freeze of the year in the nights ahead. Here is a look at what states are under the gun as this blast of winter weather hits.

First Freeze Warnings of the Year for Some Communities in the U.S.

A large swath of the central and eastern U.S. has been put under cold weather advisories as the mercury is forecast to slide into the low 20s at times heading into the weekend. The freeze and frost warnings issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) expand from northern Kansas and eastern Nebraska to the east into portions of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. Some of the advisories went into effect early Thursday, while the rest are set to begin on Friday.

Forecasters warn that frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other types of sensitive plants and vegetation. Unprotected outdoor plumbing could also be impacted by this cold snap.

How cold will it get? The forecast is calling for temperatures that fall to about 27 degrees over the next few nights in portions of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. It will be even chillier in parts of North Carolina, West Virginia, and the western edge of Virginia, with forecast lows in the mid 20s.